U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz evoked language adopted by the far-right Proud Boys extremist group as he appeared at court Thursday to support Donald Trump at his hush money trial, reflecting the undercurrent of activist elements present among the presumptive GOP nominee's supporters as he seeks a return to the White House.
鈥淪tanding back, and standing by, Mr. President," Gaetz wrote as he posted a photo on social media of him with other congressional Republicans standing behind Trump in a hallway outside the courtroom where the former president's felony case is in its fourth week of testimony.
The Proud Boys 鈥 whose leaders were after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol 鈥 have used that verbiage since Trump, during a 2020 campaign debate, said: 鈥淧roud Boys, stand back and stand by.鈥
That came from debate moderator Chris Wallace asking if Trump would condemn white supremacist and militia groups that had shown up at some social justice protests across the country that summer following .
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know who the Proud Boys are," Trump said a day later, after facing widespread criticism for his failure to condemn their actions specifically, adding: 鈥淲hoever they are, they have to stand down. Let law enforcement do their work.鈥
Proud Boys leaders and supporters later celebrated Trump鈥檚 initial words on social media. A channel on Telegram, an instant messaging service, with tens of thousands of the group鈥檚 members posted 鈥淪tand Back鈥 and 鈥淪tand By鈥 above and below the group鈥檚 logo.
After Trump's debate comment, membership for the Proud Boys 鈥渢ripled, probably,鈥 member Jeremy Joseph Bertino told the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 insurrection. Bertino to plotting with other Proud Boys members to violently stop the transfer of presidential power after Trump lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden.
Members wearing the group's black and yellow insignia have shown up on the sidelines of Trump's rallies across the country this campaign cycle, in which Trump has made the Jan. 6 attack . Having previously vowed to , Trump has at some rallies played a recorded chorus of prisoners jailed for their roles in the attack and referred to them as 鈥渉ostages.鈥
Gaetz, of Florida, was part of a contingent of conservative lawmakers who showed up at court to support Trump on Thursday, the latest in a procession of elected Republicans journeying to the New York courthouse in recent days to defend the party鈥檚 presumptive presidential nominee. Trump is to hide negative stories during his successful 2016 campaign for president.
Asked in an email if Gaetz intentionally used the verbiage adopted by the Proud Boys, spokesman Joel Valdez said, 鈥渢he tweet speaks for itself.鈥
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Kinnard reported from Columbia, South Carolina. Lisa Mascaro contributed from Washington.
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Meg Kinnard can be reached at
